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MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION For Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons . Grand Patron and President : His EOYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES , K . G ., & c , M . W . G . M . Treasurer : —JOHN A . FARNFIELD , Esq . Bankers : —LONDON ' WESTMINSTER BANK ( Blocmsbury Branch ) 214 High Holborn , London , W . C . Upwards of 1628 Annuitants have received the benefits of the Institution since its foundation in 1842 and 1849 . 202 men and 245 widows are Annuitants at the present time . 30 widows , in addition , are receiving half their late husband ' s annuity . Amount paid Annually in Annuities ... £ 16 , 384 126 CANDIDATES FOR NEXT ELECTION . Only 23 vacancies . THE ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL Will be held at the PBEEMASONS' TAVERN , LONDON , W . C , ON WEDNESDAY , 22 ND FEBRUARY 1899 , - Under the distinguished Presidency of The Right Honourable LORDLLANGATTOCK, R . W . Prov . G . Master for South Wales ( E . D . ) . Brethren are earnestly solicited to accept the Stewardship upon this most important occasion , being the Jubilee Festival of the Widows Fund , especially considering that the income during the past year was not sufficient to meet the expenditure , and to kindly forward their names as soon as possible , with full particulars , to JAMES TERRY ( Pat ., P . G . Swd . B . ) , Secretary , by whom the same will be gladly received , and who will thankfully acknowledge same . Office—4 Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C .

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| <* wv . " . vv » AVWWI ^ j | q wwjjrogg gro g a^P^y^^p SATUBDAY , 18 TH FEBBUABY 1899 .

Freemasonry In Norwich.

FREEMASONRY IN NORWICH .

WE have pleasure in reproducing the following , the fourth of a series of articles on " Norwich Club Life , " from the " Norfolk Standard : " Fascinating as the subject is , even to one not of the Craft , the question of the origin of Freemasonry must be left outside the scope of these papers . We must take up our story with its beginnings in Norwich , which , according to Mr .

Hainon le Strange ' s interesting work on the subject , would be in the early part of the last century . In his table of Norfolk Lodges Mr . le Strange gives the first place to that held at the Maid's Head , in Wensum Street , an ancient hostelry which has been the rendezvous for many societies of one land and another , and

which has a history equalling in interest any other hotel in the county . The Warrant of the Maid ' s Head Lodge bore date 1724 , and its first Master was Edward Prideaux , son of the famous and learned Dean of Norwich of that name . Francis Franke , Eegisfcrar and Chapter-Clerk at the Cathedral , was another valued

Brother ; and amongst other names of the earlier members occur those of William Crowe , Mayor in 1747 ; Bartholomew Hamond , Mayor in 1760 ; Nathaniel Eoe , Sheriff in 1737 ; Thomas Johnson , Sheriff in 1736 ; and John Ewan , Deputy Town Clerk

of the city . County families were equally well represented with civic notabilities , and the familar names of Bulwer , Berney , Astley , Pratt , Hobarfc , Bedingfeld , Gurdon , Jerningham , and others occur on the rolls . The Maid ' s Head Lodge was erased from the roll in February of 1809 .

Twelve years after its foundation , a Lodge called the Union was founded at the King ' s Head , in the Market Place , and subsequently amalgamated with another which was inaugurated at the Blue Boar , in 1765 , and had for some time been held at the Gate House , on Tombland .

Freemasonry In Norwich.

By 1818 Union Lodge was the senior of the Province , and it received a large accession of members when in that year " Coke o' Holkman " accepted the Provincial Grand Mastership , the Eev . Jeremiah Ives , member of a well-known local family , being initiated and raised for almost the sole purpose of acting as his Deputy . Among the more remarkable members of this Lodge

may be mentioned Old Crome , initiated in 1813 ; his son , John Berney Crome , Worshipful Master in 1832 and 1833 ; John Sell Cotman , who was made in . 1830—a trio of artists of whom local Freemasonry may well be proud . Other names occurring are those of Edward Lombe , William Foster , the Eev . Sheldon Jodrell ( of Saxlingham ) , Francis Morse ( of Norwich ) , John Unthank ( of the same city ) , Kerrison Harvey , John Barwell , and the Hon . E .

V . Harbord , afterwards Lord Suffield , who joined the Lodge in 1835 . The Lodge is still extant , and numbers amongst its members H . E . H . the Prince of Wales , Lord Suffield P . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Hamon le Strange Prov . G : M ., Sir F . G . M . Boileau , and Lord Amherst of Hackney , who also has lately been the moving spirit in the compilation of an interesting history of this old-established Lodge .

Unity Lodge , removed to Lowestoft m 1814 , was originally held at the Bear , its Warrant dating from 1747 . There was also , from 1749 to 1809 , a Lodge taking its name from the Union Coffee House , at the corner of London Street and the Walk , which subsequently met at the Maid's Head ; and another at the Green Dragon , not far away , which assumed the equivocal title of the Eleusinian Mysteries . This was erased in 1853 .

Swaffham New Lodge had its origin in Norwich , in 1751 ,, at the famous Hole-in-the-wall Tavern , in St : Andrew ' s , but waa removed to Swaffham in 1807 , and erased twenty years later . The Angel Lodge at Yarmouth dated from 1751 , but was removed to Norwich in 1823 , to disappear eight years afterwards . Lodge Faithful , removed to Harleston in 1854 , also began in Norwich ,

its Warrant dating from 1753 . The Chequers ( 1754 ) was removed to Writtle , in Essex ; and the Shoulder of Mutton ( 1755 ) to Walsingham , but neither is on the present roll of Lodges , having been erased in 1828 and 1791 respectively . Lodge Social , founded at the Flower in Hand in 1755 , is still extant , and so is Lodge Friendship , originating at the Dove , in 1757 , and removing to Yarmouth in . 1846 . Unanimity Lodge , at North Walsham , was

also a Norwich Lodge , dating from 1758 . Iu the ten years from 1760 to 1770 no fewer than six other Lodges were started , all but one taking their names from the taverns at which they were held , and not one of which has survived to the present day . One was declared vacant for irregularity , two were cancelled , and .. one lapsed . The Shakespeare Lodge , founded in 1792 at the Little White Swan , was removed to Warwick in 1808 .

The Theatrical Lodge was held at the Waggon and Horses . Its existence was one of some thirty years—in fact , from 1797 to 1828 . The mention of this Lodge , calls to mind the famous Masonic " bespeaks " which were wont to be accorded at the Theatre years a go , but which have now become utterly obsolete . There was an old and respected comedian , a Mason , who was in

special favour , not only with city Brethren , but also with that more august body , the Provincial Grand Lodge ; for several' years he had an annual benefit , which was made the occasion of quite a demonstration on the part of his Masonic friends . On the 28 th May , when " Pearson ' s Night" came round , the Brethren met at the Angel ( subsequently the Eoyal ) , and' after " an agreeable ,

cheerful , and harmonious afternoon , " they went in procession to the theatre , where they were received by " a large , polite , and brilliant appearance of ladies and gentlemen , who expressed their satisfaction by every mark of attention and respect . ''; - ,-The plays were Steele ' s " Conscious Lovers" and " High Life below Stairs , " and a Mr . Brown enlivened the proceedings with . some

Masonic songs , " having by that means the pleasing opportunity of conveying to the fair ladTes who honoured them with their appearance a faint idea of their innocent cheerfulness at " their convivial meetings . " After the performance the . Brethren returned to the Lodge Eoom , and partook of " a handsome cold collation . "

The Masons were also supporters , of the Norwich Theatrical Fund-for decayed actors , established in the last century , when Brunton was manager at the Theatre , and in existence as far down as 1832 . In 1827 there was a rupture , and Provincial Grand Lodge , through its Secretary Bro . J . Barwell , inserted an advertisement in . the Norwich papers , to ... explain .. why the it

" bespeak " on behalf of the fund was not given ^ being alleged that on the previous occasion Manager Wilkins had appropriated half the receipts , without the knowledge or sanction of the Brethren , to himself . The misunderstanding was , however , soon cleared up , and the bespeak was given in the following year as

usual . In 1832 , on a similar occasion , Miss Noel was down to speak a Masonic address , and no doubt this was no more than the general custom—in fact , there is some evidence that such'was the case even on " bespeaks " on the part of private gentlemen . A further flavour was given to the programme by " The Entered Apprentice " song , which was sung by Brother Harrison . The